As Christians, we are children of The King.  I have heard that statement often in recent years, usually stated with broad general implications, but few specific practical applications.  I’m a big fan of practical applications, so I’ll give you mine for this (completely accurate) statement.  First, The Word is clear, we are joint heirs with Christ and thus God’s own children.  There should be no debate on that point among those of us who believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God.

I’ve heard the statement that we are children of the king used most commonly to assert that we are missing out on physical blessings and worldly wealth and luxuries that are our birthright.  I’m kind of a history buff, but even if you’re not, common sense will tell you that kings (and their children) throughout nearly all history (certainly in biblical times) lived without myriad luxuries that we take for granted every day in this country.  How many kings ever imagined the existence of, let alone ever tasted ice cream? (I like ice cream… a lot, so it’s in my typical hypotheticals about luxuries in case you haven’t noticed).  How many dreamed of pushing a button on a wall and adjusting the temperature of their living space to whatever they wanted?  How many had music, drama, sports, any entertainment of any genre - available at any moment they desired it?  How many had our level of medical care, running water (hot or cold) from a spigot in their home, showers, flushing toilets, ease and speed of travel, communication with loved ones away from home… the list could go on and on.  My point is that we already live with more luxuries than 99% of the kings that ever lived on this planet.  In fact, I challenge anyone to come up with a practical physical luxury kings throughout history had that we do not have.  We should not demand more.  We should be thankful for what we have.  He will do His part in providing what we need and more.

My second thought on the original assertion is that there are two stereotypes for children of kings.  Stereotypes that history proves to be reasonably accurate.  Children of kings were (are) faced with enormous privilege and enormous responsibility.  There is very little middle ground in their response to their weighty circumstances.  They either responded by living lives of selfishness, grasping gluttony, ignoring the plight of their subjects or even oppressing them for the increase of their own luxury; or they filled the role of a servant to their people, living their entire lives for the benefit of their subjects, lives of duty and honor, sacrificing even their lives for their people.  Think about it.  Are you aware of any story, fairy tale, or true historical or biblical account where a child of the king did not fill one or the other of these two roles?  I am convinced that we, as children of the king, face the same choice in our lives, and that we will fill one or the other of these two roles.  Jesus fell squarely into one of these two roles.  Which one should we aspire to?

Finally, and most importantly - this is not a message for “vows of poverty” or living a downtrodden life.  On the contrary, this is a message of true joy, hope, and thanksgiving.  The message that we are “due” more luxuries as children of The King is one that robs us of our days.  It is NOT a message of prosperity; it is a lie that robs us of the prosperity that is already ours in Christ.  Our days ARE full of blessing and luxury as we live in the greatest, wealthiest, most Godly nation (even today) that the world has ever known.  Days that should be filled by the joy of a relationship with God and the support of His Spirit.  Days of thanksgiving for the incredible, unimaginable (for most of the world’s inhabitants) physical luxuries and blessing that we already have.  As Blaise Pacal said, “as long as we are planning to be happy, it is inevitable that we shall never be so”.  Let’s live today!  The present is the only time that belongs to us, the only time in which we live.  Live it in joy, thanksgiving, and sacrifice.  That is real freedom!  That is real joy!

Wow, that was really good Jim.  Thank you for sharing, I really needed this!  Been listening and re-listening to David Platt’s “Radical” series and the point that keeps hitting me in the chest is very much in line with what you cover - that we too often seek pleasure instead of contentment.  We have soooooo much to be content with but it is so against the grain of our culture to live in contentment.  Our culture is continually focused on the bigger and better pleasures and aquisition.  Wasn’t it John Rockefeller, the multi-millionaire, who stated “one dollar more” would be enough?  God cannot use us to funnel resources through our hands to the truly impoverished and desperate when we have even a hint of that mentality.  He’s given us so much to be thankful for, but it is so that we can be empowered to use it to reach the masses.  Thanks again for a great word - it really blessed me today!

Thanks Josh; having an ego, I always like what I write but I often wonder if anyone else does.

I’m going to start a series here on a general topic related to this (the specific topic is a secret until after I post my quiz later this week).

But I think you caught the underlying topic of this first post in the series: just as there are vicious cylces and downward spirals, there are also positive synergies and upward cycles.  Thankfulness breeds generosity and sacrifice, and generosity and sacrifice breeds thankfulness… and the cylcle spirals upward.  That’s my primary personal concern with the stereotypical “prosperity message”. I think (as it is sometimes presented) it breeds dissatisfaction with our state of affairs rather than thankfulness. And that starts a downward cycle.